Members of the Welkom Public Order Police (POP) have arrested a 44-year-old man after he was allegedly found in possession of stolen property valued at over R50,000.
The arrest follows a targeted operation on Monday, 24 November 2025, after the POP platoon 5 received and acted on intelligence-driven information regarding a series of thefts from motor vehicles in the Welkom Central Business District (CBD) area.
According to police reports, subsequent investigations and a review of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) footage were pivotal. The footage allegedly showed an African male breaking into a vehicle and stealing two laptops.
This evidence led police to the Bronville area, where they spotted an individual matching the description from the CCTV footage. The suspect was carrying a bag, which was searched by the officers. Inside, police discovered one HP and one Lenovo laptop.
The confiscated items, which include two laptops and two laptop chargers, have a combined estimated value of R52,000.00.
The suspect was subsequently arrested on charges of possession of suspected stolen property and theft out of a motor vehicle. He is expected to make his initial appearance before the Welkom Magistrate’s Court in the coming days.